Check here to include your profile signature.Check here to subscribe to this topic.

T O P I C R E V I E W

HDT05

Posted - 21 Apr 2012 : 00:33:14

96th Indianapolis 500

The first provisional entry list has been published for the 96th Indianapolis 500 race scheduled for Sunday May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The entries feature three former Indy 500 champions (Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon) and three former IZOD IndyCar Series champions (Dixon, Franchitti and Tony Kanaan.)

In total, 34 cars are listed, including the 26 series regulars who have been competing in the first four street and road courses of the 2012 season ahead of the month of May. The oldest driver listed at the moment is Rubens Barrichello (who will turn 40 just before race day) and the youngest is Newgarden at 21.

There are eight drivers from the US, five from the United Kingdom, four from Brazil and two each from Australia, New Zealand, France and Canada. In total, 12 different countries are represented in the provisional entry list.

There are also seven drivers listed as rookies for this event hoping to make their first Indy 500 start (Katherine Legge, Rubens Barrichello, James Jakes, Bryan Clauson, Wade Cunningham, Josef Newgarden and Simon Pagenaud.)

Jakes completed the Rookie Orientation Program in 2011 and will not have to complete it again, although he failed to make the 33-car grid for the race itself. The others will need to pass the program before they can take part in qualifying, even though Cunningham and Newgarden are experienced oval racers in Firestone Indy Lights and Clauson is a two-time USAC National Drivers Champion.

In terms of engine power, Chevrolet and Honda each have 14 entries while Lotus adds an extra car to take its total to six. No details about the additional Newman/Haas Racing-Lotus car were declared on the provisional entry list, although it's assumed that this is the entry that former F1 driver Jean Alesi will be driving.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan lists an extra #45 car alongside regular driver Takuma Sato, and this had been expected to be for 2011 GP2 runner-up Luca Filippi. However, rumoured sponsorship backing problems for the Italian may mean that the team turns instead to former CART regular Michel Jourdain Jr. to fill the seat.

An extra entry is also listed for Ed Carpenter Racing, and although no driver has been declared for the #21 the team say that they are keen to add Buddy Rice to the line-up, which would bring the tally of former Indy 500 champions hoping to start this year's race to four. A #99 car is also listed for Schmidt/Hamilton with no driver currently named. While possibly an opening for old Indy hand Davey Hamilton to return to the cockpit, Townsend Bell has been mentioned as a more likely candidate.

Other extra entries for the Indy 500 include Andretti Autosport's 2012 Firestone Indy Lights competitor and test/development driver Sebastian Saavedra, and the team is also working in partnership with Conquest Racing to field the #25 for former series regular Ana Beatriz, who will also be racing at the final street race in April in her hometown of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

With 34 cars listed, then unless one or more cars pull out someone will be left sitting on the sidelines after the qualifying weekend on May 19/20, since the Indianapolis 500 traditionally limits its starting grid to 11 rows of three.

Posted - 08 Jun 2012 : 23:13:00 oldskool apron and some more boost and those empty seats will be filled in 2013.

Fast by Ferracci

Posted - 07 Jun 2012 : 22:40:19

quote:Originally posted by gasking

Finally finished watching the race last night, damn that last lap poor Sato. It looked like it was worth a crack to me. Dario definetly didn't help him out, so lucky they both didnt crash out.

The usual indy commentators that are all up in Dario's ar$e are so biased. Sato realy didn't dive bomb him he was basicly next to him if not infront going into the corner.

I rekon it was just two guys wanting to win at all costs nothing in it. BUT i rekon it was worth a bit of post race discussion rather than focus on Dario's wife counting to 3.

The Sato/Franchitti is a glaring case, if there needed to be another one, towards getting the apron reinstated. The apron would have allowed Sato to go lower & also have allowed Franchitti to stay on the racing line.

Ever since the apron was abolished it turned Indy into a one groove track

gasking

Posted - 07 Jun 2012 : 10:14:22 Finally finished watching the race last night, damn that last lap poor Sato. It looked like it was worth a crack to me. Dario definetly didn't help him out, so lucky they both didnt crash out.

The usual indy commentators that are all up in Dario's ar$e are so biased. Sato realy didn't dive bomb him he was basicly next to him if not infront going into the corner.

I rekon it was just two guys wanting to win at all costs nothing in it. BUT i rekon it was worth a bit of post race discussion rather than focus on Dario's wife counting to 3.

Posted - 31 May 2012 : 22:27:22 Only today watched the last lap of the race. A shame Sato didn't get Franchitti. There's been a lot of debate over whether Franchitti gave enough room or not. Very hard to tell. I'd need to see more angles to determine that one.

HDT05

Posted - 31 May 2012 : 21:53:13 Pretty decent race, great job by Dario Franchitti, Dixon for second, wish it was Tony Kanaan winning the 500, but great finish for him.

Good Job Ryan Briscoe the only finishing Aussie, Will Power was always going to get caught up into some mess, he doesn't like this track!!

Honda stepped up it seems, knew it was coming :(

Mr.McPhillamy

Posted - 31 May 2012 : 01:36:40 She also wears the pants!

CP

Posted - 30 May 2012 : 18:31:40

quote:Originally posted by Fast by Ferracci

Another bit that thankfully disappeared was the wives wearing racing suits.... can we imagine Ashley Judd running round in a Target suit

Its only Delana Harvick that now does that

Wrighty05

Posted - 30 May 2012 : 10:37:32 I would like to congratulate Ashley Judd on winning the Indy 500.

Well that's the impression she gave me.

Fast by Ferracci

Posted - 30 May 2012 : 06:44:06 Another bit that thankfully disappeared was the wives wearing racing suits.... can we imagine Ashley Judd running round in a Target suit

A great moment, i agree, actually the whole last 20 laps of the race is what Indy is all about

The only thing that spoilt it was the TV director, who chose to focus on Deana Mears cheering rather than he husband having a dive at the start of the last lap...

I wasn't gonna go there!! I almost get in my car and drive into the nearest ocean while watching!!Craziness.

A grim period in American racing tv directing - from about then until the CART/IRL split it was unbearable wife-watching, I don't understand it at all - obviously it's an attempt to increase emotion - but it doesn't work, it just increases everyones frustration. Clearly the director's either aren't interested in racing, know little about racing, or are under orders from people to show wives 4 or 5 times a lap.

DJRford

Posted - 29 May 2012 : 21:14:47 Has there been talk of any other engine manufacturers joining Chevy, Honda and the disappointing Lotus for next year?

A great moment, i agree, actually the whole last 20 laps of the race is what Indy is all about

The only thing that spoilt it was the TV director, who chose to focus on Deana Mears cheering rather than he husband having a dive at the start of the last lap...

quote:Originally posted by DJRford

I'd like to think they'll look better next year.

Not only that, there seems to be enough interest from different teams & other organisations in building aero kits that we should get some real variety and innovation throughout the field with the looks of the different cars

Bring back the two weekends of qualifying (without the ridiculous 'Fast 9') and things will be getting back to normal at 16th and Georgetown